Child Abuse Prevention Month raises awareness that everyone plays a role in prevention

April 10, 2014

Tama County SKIP (Supporting Kids in Prevention) is celebrating Child Abuse Prevention Month this April with Pinwheel displays across the county. The pinwheel is a symbol of childhood, a time that should be filled with joy, nurturing and playfulness. Every child deserves a happy childhood.

Hundreds of communities across the nation participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month by raising awareness that child abuse is preventable and what community members can do to ensure families are supported. By providing services and resources to caregivers, Tama County SKIP is dedicated to making Tama County a place where children grow up safe, nurtured and able to reach their full potential.

"Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time for communities to recognize the role they play in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families," said Steve Scott, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. "Creating a strong foundation in the early years of a child's life leads to better outcomes in health, learning and productivity throughout a lifetime. By working with caregivers to prevent child abuse, we're building a stronger community for the future.

Article Photos

Pinwheels are displayed county-wide this month as a symbol of a childhood which should be “filled with joy, nurturing and playfulness.”Tama Co. Health photo

Throughout the year, Tama County SKIP works to help caregivers gain the knowledge, skills, resources and support they need to provide healthy environments for their children. Some services provided: Nest Education, Tama County Healthy Families, Home Visits, Town Hall Meetings, Parent Awareness Meetings, Parenting Classes and Anti-Bullying programs for kids.

Tama County SKIP is a community based approach to child protection. The long term focus is to protect children by changing the culture to improve processes, practices and policies. The Tama County SKIP approach involves 4 key strategies which are implemented together to achieve desire results. Those strategies are:

Shared Decision Making Provides leadership for collaborative efforts that promote community responsibility for the safety and well-being of children.

Neighborhood/Community Networking Promote cooperation and form alliances to provide more accessible and relevant informal and professional supports, services and resources for families whose children are at risk of abuse and neglect.

Family Team Meetings/Circles of Support Genuinely engage families and youth to identify strengths, resources, and supports to reduce barriers and help families succeed.

Policy and Practice Change Improve policies and practices to reduce barriers and increase accessibility and relevance of services that lead to positive family outcomes.

For more information about SKIP, please call Joyce or Linda at Tama County Public Health - 641-484-4788.